Shooter's bond set at $3M

March 20, 2014 10:13:07 AM

Sarah Fowler - sfowler@cdispatch.com

Kenneth "Kent" Coscia stood in Lowndes County Justice Court on Wednesday afternoon with a battered, bruised face and slumped shoulders.

The 30-year-old is accused of shooting two Lowndes County Sheriff's deputies and injuring a third at his New Hope home Tuesday. He wore a bulletproof vest on top of a red prison jumpsuit reserved for dangerous inmates. His hands and feet were shackled.

Coscia is charged with three counts of aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, as well as one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling.

Justice Court Judge Ron Cooke set his bond at $3,050,000 -- $1 million for each charge of aggravated assault and $50,000 for shooting into a dwelling.

Cooke told Coscia he could make bail or remain in the custody of the Monroe County Detention Center until his case appeared before the Lowndes County grand jury in August. Coscia told Cooke, "I don't have that kind of money but I understand."

Cooke, himself a former law enforcement officer, took a deep breath before telling Coscia, "I'll refrain from any comments I was going to make because this is a court of law."

Five law enforcement officers then escorted Coscia from the courtroom.

As of press time Thursday morning Coscia was in the custody of the Monroe County Detention Center. He does not yet have an attorney, according to a Justice Court clerk.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, who is handling the investigation into the incident, did not return messages seeking comment Thursday.